European evangelicals must hold fast to hope in Christ and pursue unity across borders if they are to strengthen their witness, said Connie Duarte, co-general secretary of the European Evangelical Alliance. She described hope and unity as inseparable, reminding believers that “without hope, we are most to be pitied,” and that the church grows stronger when it works together in Christ.
In comments to Christian Daily International and in a recent editorial, Duarte highlighted how relationships reflect God’s design from creation and remain essential for evangelicals in Europe today. She pointed to Scripture—from the Trinity in Genesis 1 to Paul’s appeal for unity in Ephesians 4—as reminders that cooperation, not competition, defines the church’s calling.
Carrying that vision forward, the EEA has invited members to “save the date” for its triennial networking event, Hope for Europe, scheduled for Oct. 5–6, 2026, at the Grand Blue Fafa Resort in Golem, Albania. The theme of the gathering will be finalized later this month at the alliance’s general assembly in Montenegro.
“Without hope, we face life’s difficulties and uncertainties with despair,” Duarte said, referencing Paul’s words in 1 Corinthians 15:19. “But with our eyes fixed on Jesus, we face them with joy.” She described Christ as “our hope for now, our hope for the future, and our eternal hope,” who strengthens believers across Europe and promises a day when all nations will worship together.
In an Aug. 20 editorial titled The power of relationships in times of hope under pressure, Duarte stressed that hope is lived out through relationships. She traced the theme from Genesis—God’s declaration that it is not good for man to be alone—to the New Testament promise of restored fellowship in Christ. “As people of the New Covenant, we recognize that ‘Seed’ as being Jesus Christ, our Lord and our Savior,” she wrote. “He showed us what relationships were supposed to look like—relationships full of grace, mercy, forgiveness and joy.”
Duarte emphasized that evangelicals need one another as “helpers, friends, companions, and partners.” She pointed to Genesis 2:18, when God declared it was not good for man to be alone, as a biblical foundation for the alliance’s work.
“At the EEA, I have seen disciples of Jesus coming together, laying down their differences and working together in the name of Jesus,” she said. “I have had the privilege of watching new alliances form and make the decision to join. I have seen a few other alliances who were tired and almost lifeless come back to life with excitement and joy at the possibilities of working together in their country.”
Duarte described these developments as “far from normal,” given the many barriers across Europe. “People from different cultures, languages, economic backgrounds, faith experiences, and denominations don’t naturally work well together,” she said. “Yet we have recognized, through the Holy Spirit and the work of Jesus, that it is not good for us to be by ourselves.”
Through that recognition, she argued, hope becomes visible in the restored relationships evangelicals build with each other. “We are more encouraged, more faithful, more challenged, and more effective when we stand together, pull together, pray together, and minister together,” Duarte said, citing Paul’s exhortation in Ephesians 4:2–3 to “make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.”
While new national memberships must be confirmed at the general assembly, Duarte confirmed to Christian Daily International that alliances in Gibraltar, Georgia, Ukraine and Slovakia have requested to join the EEA.
By linking the theology of hope with the practice of unity, Duarte said the EEA embodies the biblical truth that believers were never meant to walk alone. “We are more faithful and more effective when we stand together,” she said. “Hope for Europe is not just the name of an event—it is a testimony of what Christ is doing when his people choose to belong to one another.”
